Tonight Newcastle host Leam Lane Aces with the league’s top prize at stake. If Leam Lane win or draw, they take the title. If Newcastle win, their fate is back in their own hands.

Your webmaster will be attending the match and providing regular Twitter updates as the action unfolds. You can either follow @NCALeague directly, or stay on this site and watch the Twitter feed entitled “Newcastle vs. Leam Lane” that has magically appeared at the top of the left-hand panel.

Newcastle’s draw with Morpeth A has created an interesting situation at the top of Division 1. Newcastle will need to beat Leam Lane Aces to take the title – we’ve known that since approximately the beginning of the season. Thanks to their two draws, Newcastle will also need to win their rearranged match against Forest Hall A. And there is an extra proviso: for every game point Newcastle concede to Leam Lane, they must score two against Forest Hall. That’s in order to draw level with Leam Lane and force a playoff to decide the title – exceed that target, and they take the title outright.

For example, a 3-2win for Newcastle against Leam Lane would leave Newcastle needing a 4-1 win against Forest Hall for a playoff, or a 4½-½ score to win it.